Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for attending. This is an exciting proposal for political reform which has the ability to transfer local government, not just in County Limerick and I hope this will be used as a template going forward. I hope I misunderstood the Minister of State when he referred earlier to the powers that "he" may exercise in the context of what we are discussing because it is just as likely that the directly elected mayor could be a woman. I would be careful of not using gendered language before we have an election.

I have a couple of questions on the responsibilities of the directly elected mayor that follow on from the Chairman's questions on special advisers and the chief executive. Is it anticipated that the powers which will be transferred to the mayor are the powers the chief executive has now regarding the council? What will the HR functions of a directly elected mayor be in dealing with some of the current chief executives and their functional areas of responsibility with regard to people reporting to them and being able to direct them?

Why do we think it will be so long until an election can take place? Could we be looking at one in the autumn, particularly in view of the fact that a by-election is due to be held in July?

We will probably be passing elements of the electoral reform Bill in order to hold that by-election in July. Does the Minister of State believe that we will potentially be able to do something similar regarding the holding of election for mayor in the autumn?

I am aware that other members have asked about devolved powers. When will the relevant powers be devolved? What is the timeline for the devolution powers following the election of a mayor?